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Reviews

Driving Impression

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According to Chevrolet, the Cruze sedan can accelerate from zero to sixty in less than eight seconds, which is adequate. The engine is fairly smooth, but there is a hesitation in the acceleration when you floor it, probably from the automatic transmission. If you had the manual transmission you’d have to shift down; but the shift action will be smooth and the clutch light and easy. We actually got seat time in a bare-bones L model, and it makes good efficient transportation.

Having lost 250 pounds in that redesign two years ago, the Cruze is now responsive, nimble, and fun to drive. The chassis is planted. The rack-mounted electric power steering isn’t too light at low speeds, and nicely weighted at high speed. It’s no sport sedan, but the Cruze handles better and with more confidence than some of its Japanese and Korean rivals. And a Cruze with the RS or Redline package, with a more sophisticated rear suspension having a Z-link design, brings poise to the cornering.

Still, there’s no denying that Mazda and Hyundai offer more sport than the Cruze.

The Cruze is quiet and comfortable on the highway, with excellent stability. The comfortable ride is one of the best in a compact car, even with the big 18-inch wheels; we’d go so far to say it rides like a little luxury car.

The standard rear suspension is torsion beam, but the Premier gets an improved setup for crisper cornering. The Cruze also comes with four-wheel disc brakes, using long-wearing Duralife rotors.

The 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine is a gem, for the most part. It was added last year for the sedan, and in 2018 becomes available with the hatchback; it comes with either the nine-speed automatic or six-speed manual. It fills a void left by Volkswagen who ran from the market after their diesel emissions fiasco. With only 137 horsepower it’s no cheetah, but that 240 pound-feet of torque compensates by making it a jackrabbit. The engine is nearly silent and the broad torque band endows it with easy acceleration. And the 9-speed automatic shifts with little hesitation.

Shorter overall by eight inches, the hatch fits into small parking spaces easier than does the sedan.

We’ve tested a number of different version of the Cruze, and the one we like is the most expensive: Premier Hatchback with the RS package. It handles the best, while being smooth and compliant.

Walk Around

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Hatch and sedan versions of the Cruze have the same wheelbase, but the Hatch is eight inches shorter overall, all of the loss coming behind the rear doors. The roof curves back to a spoiler over the back glass in the fifth-door hatch that’s a bit small, but opens to a roomy cargo area.

The Cruze sedan is toned and crisp, longer and wider than most compacts, with a wedge shape that leads to a short rear deck. It has the same grille as the Chevy Volt, Malibu, and Impala.

Interior Overview

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The cabin is modern without being too digital. It’s similar to the high-tech Volt, with relatively simple instrumentation in a pod, outlined in chrome, and intuitive controls. The layout is clean and sharp. In the center of the dash there’s a standard 7.0-inch or 8.0-inch touchscreen. The higher models feature two-tone trim. The front seats are comfortable, with better bolstering in the leather seats than in the fabric upholstery.

For a compact car, the Cruze sedan is very spacious, its stats matching many midsize cars. It holds four adults as advertised, with more leg and hip room in the rear seat than rivals, namely the Ford Focus or Hyundai Elantra.

The trunk is a large 13.7 cubic feet.

The Hatch has 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat, not as much as the Honda Civic or Ford Focus hatchbacks. Even though it’s a compact, the Cruze hatch is slightly smaller than the subcompact Chevrolet Sonic hatchback. It’s all in vertical room, a penalty of the Cruze’s curvy roofing. However, with the rear seat folded, the Hatch holds a competitive 47 cubic feet of cargo.

Summary

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Chevy Cruze is a solid contender in the crowded compact class, especially the Hatch, which has a stylish shape and looks hot with the RS package. The 1.4-liter turbo could use more power. The interior holds four adults comfortably, while the Hatch with its rear seat folded offers good cargo space. Cruze LS is a good value.